Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-11-24

Cen. sherIdan's Annual Report,
Containing Points Of Especial In
! 10 People OF tho NorfMeaf.

Containing Points Of Especial In
tersstto People OF tho Northwest.
Washington. Special Telegram, Nov. Is.
lin his ANIMALS report issued to-day. Lieut..
Gen. Sheridan, referring to the trouble on
tbs Crow reservation in Montana, says:
The agent, from the best Information
that | have, while an honorable. well
meaning man. Is not very well calculated
to deal with wild Indians, being somewhat
arbitrary aud domineering and in his en-
deavort to establish discipline, attempted to
enforce HE power without giving the In
dams O chance to cool Of after their in
dulgences. As might have been expected.
from people OF their character, resistance
was Immediately threatened. Reports OF
the trouble having reached Washington. ],
alter consulting with the secretary Of the
interior. wDt to st. Paul. intending, IL
necessary, 70 continue on to Fort Custer,
but, receiving a full report OF the circnm-
stances from Gen. Ruger, the department
commander, / did not deem my personal
Intervention necessary, but instead | di.
tected him to proceed to the scene O ftrouble
and assemble there such n force that their
numbers alone would overawe the malcon-
tents and rende resistance Impossible.
This has been done, and, as those directly
concerned in the trouble are only IL in
number, | anticipate no difficulty in their
subjugation. Gen. Ruger will cause the In
dams who have taken a principal part in
this affair TO be arrested, and TO
further quiet restless young men
among them / authorized him to enlist
about thirty Of their number as scouts
and take them to Fort Custer. The Crows
have always been friendly and make IL a
boast that they have never killed q white
man, and it would be a great pity II any
thing should now occur to disturb the
peaceful relations Of SO long e standing;
and | am confident that Gen. Ruger will be
able to effect n permanent settlement that
will be satisfactory to the Crows. as well
as to ourselves.
CONCENTRATING ROO
Gen. Sheridan says OF the proposed con-
centration Of troops:
The extension OF railroads throughout
the division which has suddenly pro.
gressed during the year will bring some
posts that were formerly supplied
with difficulty and expense with.
In easy reach. and will also obviate the ne
eessity Tor longer retaining some of the
smaller gar risons. In pursursn nee OF this
theory, the policy demonstrating into lar
ger posts in the vicinity OF railroad centers
has Tor several years been advocated, and
many minor positions now retained only
because they afford a shelter for the troops
not as yet provided for elsewhere will be
abandoned as soon as accommodations
san be obtained at the regimental posts
now either building or contemplated
In the near future. The work In
the new posts al Denver. where
1t is proposed to place ten eom.
panies, will shortly be commenced. That
at San Antonio has been progressing
fayorably during the ear The ground
for the new post near Chicago will pass
into the possession OF the government at
IN early day. At Fort Smelling both the
reservation and other attendant condi.
lions are favorable for the establishment OF
a large garrison, and only some additional
buildings are required for their accom-.
mediation. The reconstruction OF Fort
Riley has been actively prosecuted during
the year, but before it can be completed
additional appropriations will be neces.
sary.
SOME GENERAL MATTERS.
From the report it appears that
at the date of the last consolidated
returns the army consisted OF
1900 officers and 24,236 men.
lnclr.:ing Indian scouts. The lieutenant
general briefly sums up the condition OF
the various divisions OF the army, and OF
the division Of the Missouri, says:
While it has been free from Indian hos
tilities OF any magnitude many operations
Of a minor nature have been rendered nee.
sssary. Troops have been continually oe-
.upied in patrolling the Oklahoma country
and have been successful in keeping intrud-
srs out Of that region. The gradual spread
81 railroads throughout the territory can,
however. ultimately have but one effect,
md / am now of opinion that congress
may well consider the n~dvisability of open
ing up portions at least OF this
country to settlement. The general re-
..-.- n. = --..- T. 800 -
In Colorado near. the U~neompahgre In
dian reservation, and their formulation
through the intereession OF Lieut.. Burnette
with a small detatehm ent Of the Ninth
savalry.
Gen. Sheridan docs not look iavorably
Upon the proposition OF Gen. Miles to
separate the ~Iudiansnow at San Carlos in.
to several camps, about 100 or 200 miles
apart. deeming IL for the best interests OF
Arizona and OF the Indians themselves
that they should be kept in one body, and
the duties necessary for their control ton-
sentrated at u single point.
Divided into different bands. he says,
each location might become the center of
disturbances, and the difficulties OF their
supervision would be greatly increased"
INCREASED DEsERnoSs.
The general expresses regret at the fact
81 a slight increase in the lumber OF de-
sertions during the year. and sees no REM
sdy for IL, He looks fayorably on the
new plan Of monthly payments. He says:
The recruiting service has enlisted an in
creased number of good men. Discipline is
rood. The artillery, infantry and cavalry
schools are reported to be doing good work,
and the army has greatly improved in rife
practice. The general renews his recon-
~meudation that 5000 men be added to
the army and that two majors and two
captains be added to each infantry regi-
ment. He recommends the appointment
Of a board to frame revised tactics TO
meet the changes in handling men occa-
sioned by changes in the methods OF war.
The general urges us a measare highly pro-
motive OF efficiency the retirement OF about
siRhty old officers who are unfit for duty,
but whose retention on the active list en-.
tails additional work on the men who are
at the same time withheld from promotion
thereby. The time is near at hand when the
army should be supplied with machine
runs. Unless IN effective arm OF this
character is developed by an American
manufacturer very soon, the government
should adopt some foreign repeating gun.
Our coast defenses have continued to de-
teriorate during the year. Adequate de-
lenses must be the work of years and at
tanned at heavy outlay. In the mean
time the dynamite gun experiments show
valuable qualities and good results within
their range. and experimenting with q view
to their iuture development should be en-.
eouraged. Desirable features are the speed
with which they can be manufactured and
their comparative Responsiveness.
THE NATIONAL
Gen. Sheridan concludes his report as
follows:
am strongly in favor OF the general gov
49, awA,-ls-- Ill --a.slI al a. 4.
national guard OF the different states, as
they constitute n body OF troops that in
ady great emergency would form an I'M
portant part OF our military force. They
should be armed with the best weapons,
amply provided with complete camp and
garrison equipage and instructed to the va.
rious drills audexercises according to the
tactics and systems followed in the regular
army. Most OF the state troops now
march well and handle the gun well, but
they are deficient in discipline and In all
the duties that teach % soldier to take
care OF himself while in camp OF upon a
march. This defect can best be overcome
by establishing some system OF encamp.
ment under the control and direction and
at the entire expense OF the general govern
ment. In the development OF such a meas
IRE the entire army, as well as myself per-
sonally. will be glad to render such assist
ancs as lies in our power, and / recon.
mend thst the favorable consideration Of
the subject be commended to congress.
---
What the British Commissioner
Says.
At the late banquet OF the New York
Chamber OF Commerce. among the distin-
euished guests was tho British Irish Com.
missioner Joseph Chamberlain. President
Smith proposed q toast To Mr.. Chamber